9 BAY DRIVE, KAPALUA MAUI

Brimming with raw Pacific beauty, a soothing year-round climate and over 120 miles of coastline, Maui is pure escape. Along the west coast of the island is Kapalua Bay, which loosely translates to “arms embracing the sea.”

Embrace the Splendor of Private Island Living at 9 Bay Drive - an Unparalleled Maui Estate

It’s a descriptor that makes complete sense when gazing at this island postcard come to life, where scenes are framed by a porcelain blue sky and turquoise waves lapping softly against golden sand. Jutting out at its westernmost position is Hawea Point—a near-mythic place with majestic coastal bluffs and one mile of marine shoreline sculpted by the ocean over eons, unbridled and now sheltered by conservation.

Poised above the water, on a grand bluff of sea cliffs, is one of Hawaii’s rarest properties: an architectural estate that’s spread across over nearly 10 exquisite acres.

“It is the most exceptional property I have represented in my 36-year real estate career,” states Realtor-broker Mary Anne Fitch. This is strong praise given Mary Anne Fitch’s multi-decade tenure representing the creme de la creme of Maui oceanfront properties.

The estate — 9 Bay Drive — is notable for its epic sprawl, not just in size but also in its sheer range of moods, settings and topography. On the estate, one soaks up manicured scenes of breezy palms and a velvety green lawn; then the eye travels along curvy hillside paths to sandy shores and swirling tide pools.

There are ancient lava rocks, perfect for adrenaline-charged cliff jumps, and grassy nesting sites, the protected home of feathery Ua’u Kani seabirds. Then, seemingly just a stone’s throw from the glassy lip of the home’s infinity pool, are the shapely verdant peaks of nearby islands that seem to rise up from the sea.

This setting akin to Shangri-la is gifted an unexpected boost in the form of an additional 13 undeveloped acres that sits directly adjacent. This forever swath of pure island beauty is conservation land, so it can never be developed. Added to the estate’s already generous grounds, it has the effect of deepening the special atmosphere of privacy and being one in nature.

In this contemporary tropical design, the architects have distilled the point’s grand feel and multi-faceted environment into meticulously planned living spaces, resulting in a sleek, organically derived atmosphere of luxury.

From the central courtyard—a tranquil space where fire glows atop a rippling pool of water, and there’s a palm tree in each corner—there are separate wings. These sections of the homes can be linked together or, when not in use, sectioned off to scale the grand residence down to a more intimate feel. The home can comfortably host a dozen or more overnight guests, who enjoy private bedroom suites, along with separate entrances and individual lanais.

Materials that reference those in nature, like sand-hued limestone and exotic hardwoods, are plentiful, as are oversized windows and entire walls of sliding glass that bring together the interior and exterior. Notable in the master bedroom, for instance, are a series of glass doors that open the airy, circular space to a 270-degree kaleidoscope of sky, ocean and land. A pretty bonus, particularly after hours, is the luminous glow of the historic Hawea Point Lighthouse, a charmed relic of Maui history that dates back to the early 20th century and is steps from the house.

Though the estate is a private oasis unto itself, its location is a strategic one for those who might want to step out or entertain visiting friends and family. “Within a few minutes’ walk,” points out Mary Anne Fitch, “you can access the resort amenities at Montage Residences Kapalua Bay, which is an exclusive oceanfront community located within Kapalua Resort.”

It’s a low-key, elegant place, garnering top slot last year among Hawaiian resorts by Travel + Leisure. Among its five-star niceties are two PGA- and LPGA-level courses that are home to pro tournaments and consistently ranked among the finest in Hawaii. This, along with torch-lit al fresco dining and a full-service, 30,000-square-foot spa, where one can partake in fresh-air massages and personal training sessions on the beach.

One imagines that no matter how luxe the outside lures, within a short time one would crave the scene back home at 9 Bay Drive. It’s a property that, no matter how long one’s been in residence, always has a fresh and changing feel.

“It can feel intimate, and it can accommodate a crowd, too,” notes Mary Anne Fitch, recounting an event at the estate where, despite a crowd of over 150 people, the bluff-top paradise still felt roomy. Similarly, while the island’s climate makes for a comfortable visit no matter the month, on Hawea Point nature always serves up a different experience.

“In summer,” Mary Anne Fitch explains, “the waves are softer, and the ocean is calmer.” Winter is still warm, yet the waves swell, and the winds are energized. No matter the season or hour of day, unchanged is the effect this rarified air and outlooks have on a person.

“There is nothing else like it on Maui,” Mary Anne Fitch says of the property, “and arguably, not in the entire state of Hawaii.”

Presented by

Mary Anne Fitch

(808) 283-9007